Quartieri storici (non) tutelati: il rischio di sopravvivenza tra degrado e sostituzioni. Il caso di San Berillo a Catania

In line with the research on the fragility and peculiarities of the landscape and architecture in the Etna towns and the historic districts of Catania, the paper focuses on the importance of the built heritage material value. It discusses the constructive, architectural and identity elements of the San Berillo district. The article points out inconsistencies in local urban planning, regional and national laws and the weak protection of ‘minor’ historic fabrics. Finally, based on positive ‘bottom-up’ experiences, the study analyses the social fabric conditions and the criticalities of the built heritage and suggests possi- ble strategies to defend and enhance the material and identity values of the district.